Authors together

Students gather at Marian to discuss craft

Students gather at Marian to discuss craft

March 30, 2006|LAUREEN FAGAN Tribune Staff Writer

Budding writers from area Catholic and Christian schools learned some of the secrets from the professionals, courtesy of the 13th annual Young Authors' Conference at Marian High School. Cathy Hall, a South Bend mother, said it was the seventh year that one or more of her children came to the authors' workshop. This year, that included 12-year-old Nicholas, 10-year-old Mary Kate and 7-year-old Caroline. "I just think this is such a valuable experience," Hall said. On the car ride to Marian, she added, "I was really impressed by what my kids remembered about all the authors, every year." AUTHORS Hall thought that guest author Stephen Swinburne's message of never giving up was important to kids, too. "To hear it out of his mouth, not mine," Hall said, was a life lesson young writers can take into other fields. Swinburne, visiting from Vermont, told the students about one book that was rejected 37 times before a publisher accepted his work. But he was really there to help them learn to write, beginning with the roles of both author and artist. "They're called the illustrator," answered Garrett Loitz, 8, a second-grade student from St. Joseph South Bend, when Swinburne asked who draws the pictures for books. Likewise, Kelly Dodson of Queen of Peace school in Mishawaka knew the definition of a strong verb. "It's an action word," she explained. Kelly, an 8-year-old third-grader, said she likes to write. "You can write about a lot of things and you can get a lot of ideas," Kelly said. "You can inspire people to write, too. Sometimes, I like to write about nonfiction stuff." Swinburne, whose books emphasize nature and animals, delighted students with stories of black bears and manatees, frogs and birds. One photo he showed the students was of Swinburne and his wife on a honeymoon safari in Africa. "Have you ever touched the behind of a rhino?" he asked as the children giggled. "Well, we won't go there." Pat Blair, a member of Christ the King's school community, said more than 500 students were enrolled in the program. Along with Swinburne, the event, coordinated by Suzanne Wiwi of South Bend's St. Joseph Grade School, also invited musical storytelling from Joe Urbany. Ana Maria Lewis and Pamela Regnery planned a parent presentation on links between reading and writing. "He was nonfiction," she said of Swinburne, "and we've not had an author who does nonfiction." She liked his books, she added, especially the emphasis on nature that has such appeal for young readers and writers. "Our purpose is to encourage the reading and writing connection, and encourage (students) to see how important it is to be good readers." It's a skill that matters in science, math, social studies. And life itself, Wiwi added. "It makes learning other things so much easier."Staff writer Laureen Fagan: lfagan@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6344 Hall thought that guest author Stephen Swinburne's message of never giving up was important to kids, too. "To hear it out of his mouth, not mine," Hall said, was a life lesson young writers can take into other fields. Swinburne, visiting from Vermont, told the students about one book that was rejected 37 times before a publisher accepted his work. But he was really there to help them learn to write, beginning with the roles of both author and artist. "They're called the illustrator," answered Garrett Loitz, 8, a second-grade student from St. Joseph Grade School in South Bend, when Swinburne asked who draws the pictures for books. Likewise, Kelly Dodson of Queen of Peace school in Mishawaka knew the definition of a strong verb. "It's an action word," she explained. Kelly, an 8-year-old third-grader, said she likes to write. "You can write about a lot of things and you can get a lot of ideas," Kelly said. "You can inspire people to write, too. Sometimes, I like to write about nonfiction stuff." Swinburne, whose books emphasize nature and animals, delighted students with stories of black bears and manatees, frogs and birds. One photo he showed the students was of Swinburne and his wife on a honeymoon safari in Africa. "Have you ever touched the behind of a rhino?" he asked as the children giggled. "Well, we won't go there." Pat Blair, a member of Christ the King's school community, said more than 500 students were enrolled in the program. Along with Swinburne, the event, coordinated by Suzanne Wiwi of South Bend's St. Joseph Grade School, also invited musical storytelling from Joe Urbany. Ana Maria Lewis and Pamela Regnery planned a parent presentation on links between reading and writing. "He was nonfiction," she said of Swinburne, "and we've not had an author who does nonfiction." She liked his books, she added, especially the emphasis on nature that has such appeal for young readers and writers. "Our purpose is to encourage the reading and writing connection, and encourage (students) to see how important it is to be good readers." It's a skill that matters in science, math, social studies. And life itself, Wiwi added. "It makes learning other things so much easier."Staff writer Laureen Fagan: lfagan@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6344